Chapter 62: So Nervous
This was Isabella's first on-site inspection, and she took meticulous notes. Seb, her superior, didn't hesitate to remind her of some key points.
Time has quickly approached noon. Isabella sat in the office, reviewing the notes she had taken, feeling very fulfilled.
At this moment, Seb walked over and asked, "Are you hungry?"
Before Isabella could answer, her stomach growled. She felt a bit embarrassed and honestly said, "Yes, I'm hungry."
"Let's go eat."
This area was somewhat suburban, and Seb took Isabella to a restaurant that seemed clean. He turned to Isabella and asked, "Is it okay to eat here?"
Isabella was not picky but was surprised that Seb asked for her opinion. It felt really good to be so respected. She nodded. "Sure."
At that moment, the restaurant owner approached them apologetically: "Sorry, our head chef is sick today, so we won't be able to serve you."
Isabella was disappointed. She was truly hungry, and on the way here, she noticed that this was the only restaurant nearby. She and Seb would face starvation if they couldn't receive any food.
Seb looked at Isabella and asked the owner, "Are the ingredients fresh?"
"They are fresh, delivered this morning. The head chef suddenly fell ill."
"Since the ingredients are fresh, I'll cook." Seb handed his coat and briefcase to Isabella. "Hold these."
Both Isabella and the owner were surprised.
"Mr. Landon."
Seb had already started rolling up his sleeves. "What, do you think I can't do it?"
Isabella shook her head. She wouldn't dare say Seb couldn't do it.
She was just surprised that Seb could cook, and she had a little doubt about whether the food he made would be edible.
The owner handed Seb a new apron and led them to the kitchen. The kitchen was quite clean, but when Isabella saw the clay stove, she fell silent for a while.
The small restaurant's use of a clay stove was reasonable. But when Isabella saw Seb standing in front of the clay stove, it didn't seem so reasonable anymore. Seb, in his expensive suit with a spotless white shirt, seemed out of place in this setting.
"Isabella, can you add more fire?" Seb turned to ask her.
Isabella nodded. "I can."
After finding a place to put Seb's coat and briefcase, Isabella went to the bottom of the clay stove.
Isabella lit the fire, and the stove quickly heated up without a hint of smoke in the room.
"I didn't expect you to know how to do this," Seb chuckled.
Isabella also smiled and said, "I've lit many fires like this. I used to grow up in a mud house with Nina."
"A mud house," Seb said with a slight smile. "I've also lived in one."
"You've lived in a mud house." Isabella was truly surprised. Seb's status, his demeanor, his aura- none of it seemed like he had lived in a mud house.
"Yes. When I was young." Seb briefly mentioned it, not delving further.
But Isabella felt that when Seb mentioned his childhood, a faint sadness enveloped him.
Next, Isabella witnessed Seb's cooking skills firsthand, from chopping vegetables to washing them. He handled every process with ease. Soon, a variety of dishes bursting with colors, aromas, and flavors adorned the table.
Seb stood by the sink, washing his hands, and Isabella brought over the utensils to clean. The sink was rectangular, spacious enough for both of them to stand side by side.
Suddenly, Seb turned to look at her, and Isabella instinctively raised her head. Under the sunlight, their eyes met, and Isabella blushed gradually.
"I'll wash the dishes." Isabella put the utensils in the sink to rinse.
"Don't move." Seb reached out, lightly wiping her cheek with his finger. "There's some dirt."
Before dinner, Isabella took out her phone and took a picture of the dishes on the table, focusing intently before noticing that Seb had approached behind her.
"Impressive."
Isabella sheepishly put away her phone. "You cooked the meal well."
Seeing Seb, who usually seemed detached from the mundane world, was a revelation. But now, not only was he so adept in the kitchen, but he also handles the clay stove with ease, She was surprised. And Isabella felt like she was getting to know a whole new side of Seb.
After the meal, Isabella and Seb went around to other places. When they were driving back, it was already four in the afternoon. Isabella said she wanted to pick up dinner from Nina's house. Seb asked for the address and drove straight there. When they arrived downstairs, Isabella unbuckled her seatbelt and said, "Mr. Landon, I'll go up and get it."
"Okay." Seb rolled down the window to get some air.
Isabella arrived at Nina's door and knocked for a while, but no one answered. She took out her phone and called Nina.
"Hey, Bella."
"Sis, are you not home?"
"My husband and I are at the hospital." Nina sounded apologetic. "I was just on my way to the hospital to pick up some medicine, so I brought dinner for Zoe Landon and forgot to tell you."
"It's okay." Isabella hung up the phone. When she turned back to go downstairs, she immediately saw Samantha standing next to Seb's car. Through the car window, Samantha seemed to be saying something, while Seb listened in a casual manner.
Isabella's heart skipped a beat, and she hurried over, "Mr. Landon."
She interrupted Samantha and Seb's conversation.
Samantha glanced back at Isabella but didn't say anything, then turned and went into the building.
Isabella watched Samantha leave, feeling a bit uneasy for some reason. When she shifted her gaze back, she found Seb quietly looking at her with an inscrutable deep gaze.
Once in the car, Isabella spoke up, "My sister has already taken dinner over."
"Okay." Seb drove away from the neighborhood.
Isabella felt his attitude had cooled somewhat, and her sense of unease grew stronger. Unable to contain herself, she asked, "What did Samantha say to you?"
"Nothing." Seb replied curtly, suddenly becoming more concise.
Isabella didn't press further, but she felt restless. Within a minute or two, her palms were sweating.
As the traffic light turned red, Seb stopped the car and spoke softly, "Isabella."
"Here!" Perhaps she was too nervous. Isabella's reaction was a bit exaggerated.
Seb chuckled. "Why so nervous?"
"I'm not."
"Are you afraid of Samantha?" Seb wasn't a fool. Isabella was wary of Samantha, but he also sensed that she seemed a bit afraid of her.
"I'm not afraid." Isabella replied.
Seb gave Isabella a deep look but didn't say anything more.
Seb parked the car at the hospital, and as they got out, they saw Charlie and Nina. Upon seeing Seb, Charlie immediately approached and said, "Mr. Landon, I've heard so much about you."
Seb glanced at him and asked, "Who is this?"
"I'm Isabella's brother-in-law." Charlie introduced himself by saying, "Also the sales manager at the W.S. Group. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Landon."
